JACKSON, MI -- State Rep. Mike Shirkey is part of a Republican majority in
Lansing that has made sweeping changes to Michigan's public school system in
the last two years.

Bonnie Johnson, who is challenging Shirkey in the Nov. 6
election, strongly opposes many of those changes.

As part of our week-long look at the 65th
District State House race, here are the candidates' views on education issues:

K-12 education
funding

Mike ShirkeyFile photo

Shirkey supported a 2012 state budget that reduced
per-student K-12 funding by about $100 for most school districts and required districts
to meet state-prescribed "best practices" to avoid further cuts.

"I would have never removed the money out of our school
systems," said Johnson, D-Leoni Township. "I think we fully have to invest in
our school systems. They are our future."

Shirkey said the federal government has reduced K-12
spending by more than $400 million in the last two years. "We've increased by
similar amounts if compared to 2011," Shirkey said.

Money from President Barack Obama's stimulus program made up
for previous state budget cuts to per-pupil funding, but the federal money dried
up for the 2012 budget year.

Teacher evaluations

Shirkey also voted for changes in the state's teacher tenure
law, making it easier for public schools to fire teachers who are deemed
ineffective.

Bonnie JohnsonHandout photo

Teachers will be evaluated in part on their students'
performance on standardized tests. Johnson disagrees with that practice.

"(Students) need a well-rounded education – not just math
and English, which seems to be the main things they're tested on," she said. "Science,
biology, the arts, things that they would enjoy in school, like your arts and
phys-ed classes to keep them healthy."

Shirkey stood by the new evaluation system. "Those who
oppose measuring teacher performance the way we prescribed never offer any
alternative methodology," he said.

"Do I think that the first evaluation tools for teachers are
going to be perfect?" he said. "No. But we must remain committed to measuring
performance, otherwise you can never improve. That's the case with business,
and that's the case with government as well."

Other education
issues

Johnson said the state should provide more funding for teaching
skilled trades to students.

"Smaller class sizes is a must in these school systems," she
said.

Shirkey said more major changes aren't needed now.

"I think it's time we allow all these changes to settle in
and measure the results," he said. "I think we should be letting the changes
play out, because we've made dramatic changes."

The 65th District includes Springport, Tompkins, Rives, Blackman, Henrietta, Leoni,
Waterloo, Grass Lake, Norvell, Columbia and Liberty townships in Jackson
County. The district also includes Cambridge Township in Lenawee County
and the city of Eaton Rapids along with Hamlin and Brookfield townships
in Eaton County.

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of articles about the
65th State House District race. Check back later this week for articles
about the candidates' positions on abortion and for an article about Shirkey's voting record in the state
House.

More coverage:

Check out the MLive Voter Guide
for more about this race and Election 2012. It includes bios of candidates for
federal, state and local offices and their responses to questionnaires
about the issues.